Houston’s own Cartier Martin lands in starting lineup against Rockets

As Cartier Martin attached guest passes to the 30 tickets he bought to Wednesday’s game, he at least knew his friends and family would see something they never could before.

For the first time in his six NBA seasons, Martin started in his home town.

With guard Kyle Korver out with a bruised rib, the former Aldine Nimitz star moved into the starting lineup. The timing, despite Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer’s jokes with Martin, was a coincidence.

“We would have started if we were in Cleveland,” Budenholzer said.

For Martin, it was a nice accident of timing.

“It’s definitely a big opportunity, to get a chance to be home and get this opportunity. The big thing is to play like I have before. Nothing changes. I’m going to continue to play my game, do what they ask me to do and be as aggressive as I can at times.”

Martin has played in Houston before, but only briefly with the Washington Wizards.

“I came off the bench and played a little bit, gave my hometown people something to see,” Martin said. “I never got a win, though.”

Korver sat out one game shy of matching Dana Barros’ record for consecutive games making at least one 3-pointer. Korver has made a 3 in 88-consecutive games, since he went 0 for 3 against the Rockets in Atlanta last season.